Author: Desmond Brooks
Desmond Brooks
Desmond Brooks is a skilled financial strategist with a keen eye for market analysis and trading opportunities. With a solid foundation in finance and a passion for economic trends, Desmond provides clear, actionable insights that help traders navigate the complexities of the market. He has contributed to several financial platforms, where his expertise in strategic planning and risk management has made him a trusted voice in the trading community.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has pulled the plug on Direct Trading Technologies UK Ltd (DTT), revoking its license and freezing the firm’s assets after uncovering serious internal failings including the use of allegedly fake audit documents. The move, which took effect on March 27, 2025, stops DTT from offering any regulated financial services in the UK. The FCA has also ordered the company to close all active trading positions and return funds to its clients as soon as possible. “We’ve imposed restrictions on DTT that prevent it from continuing regulated activity and accessing any of its assets,” the…
The landscape of community-building in the trading world is shifting and fast. Once the go-to hub for prop firms and retail traders alike, Discord is no longer the default choice. Now, firms are beginning to explore more secure, compliant, and data-integrated alternatives. According to Desmond Leong, CEO of Returning.AI, this quiet migration signals a deeper transformation in how prop firms engage with their communities. “Traders crave real-time interaction,” Leong explains. “It’s no longer just about having a place to chat. Firms now need dynamic, fully integrated ecosystems that meet compliance standards and drive loyalty.” Behind the Shift: It’s Not Regulators—It’s…
Interactive Brokers Group (NASDAQ: IBKR) reported a strong performance in April 2025, driven by a sharp rise in trading activity and continued growth in client accounts and assets. The online brokerage giant recorded 3.818 million Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) during the month up a remarkable 63% compared to April of last year and 10% higher than in March. This spike highlights increased investor participation and activity across its platform. Client Equity on the Rise Client equity reached $588.1 billion by the end of April, marking a 28% increase year over year and a 3% climb from the previous month.…
Cybercriminals are ramping up efforts to deceive TradingView users by exploiting YouTube with fraudulent channels that push malware disguised as legitimate trading tools. These scam operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, putting unsuspecting traders especially those involved in crypto at serious risk. Fraudsters Impersonate TradingView to Spread Malware TradingView, a popular platform for traders and investors, has raised the alarm about a disturbing trend: the use of hijacked or stolen YouTube accounts to impersonate the company. These accounts often have verified badges and a significant number of subscribers, making them look authentic to the average viewer. Scammers behind these operations upload…
The European Commission has launched a fresh initiative aimed at strengthening the integration of financial markets across the European Union. On April 15, 2025, a targeted consultation was unveiled, inviting banks, financial firms, and other market participants to offer their insights and suggestions. The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is actively encouraging stakeholders to participate in this important dialogue. This consultation is a key step under the broader Savings and Investments Union (SIU) strategy, which was first introduced on March 19, 2025. Its main goal is to pinpoint the existing barriers that hinder the seamless operation of EU-wide financial…
US Tiger and TradeUP Securities have reached a settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following multiple compliance violations, specifically around anti-money laundering (AML) deficiencies and failures to retain electronic communications properly. AML Compliance Lapses Lead to Penalties The two affiliated broker-dealers, owned by an offshore parent company, were involved in servicing omnibus accounts for foreign financial institutions that engaged in trading illiquid, low-priced stocks. FINRA’s investigation revealed that between November 2019 and March 2021 (for US Tiger) and between April 2021 and June 2023 (for TradeUP), both firms operated AML programs that failed to detect and report suspicious…
London Capital Group (LCG) has successfully returned to profitability, reporting a statutory gain of £478,000 for 2024. This marks a remarkable recovery from the £6.03 million loss the company posted in 2023, according to an update shared by Managing Director Matt Basi on LinkedIn. Strong Second-Half Performance Drives Recovery The firm highlighted that it regained operational profitability during the second half of 2024, with this positive trend continuing into 2025. Although LCG is now back in the black, leadership emphasizes that there is still considerable work ahead to fully realize the company’s broader strategic goals. In his LinkedIn post, Basi…
A sophisticated investment scam has recently emerged in South Africa, leveraging deepfake technology to impersonate top financial officials and mislead the public. Circulating primarily through WhatsApp, the fraudulent video features a digitally fabricated version of Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Commissioner, Mr. Unathi Kamlana, supposedly endorsing an artificial intelligence-based trading platform. The FSCA issued an urgent warning to the public, clarifying that the video is entirely fake and that the regulator has no association with the platform being promoted reportedly named “NBSG Securities” or “Nedbank Securities.” The platform promises highly unrealistic returns, with claims of 20–30% profit margins, raising serious…
In trading, there are two major schools of thought technical analysis vs fundamental analysis. Each has its own loyal followers, its own methods, and its own mindset. Some swear by price action and indicators, while others trust economic data, earnings, and macro trends. But here’s the thing: there’s no one size fits all approach. Your trading success depends on finding the strategy that aligns with your style, personality, and time commitment. In this post, we’ll break down both approaches how they work, what makes them different, their strengths, and how to know which one (or both) fits you best. What…
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a powerful trading platform used by millions of forex traders around the world. One of the most critical settings that every trader needs to understand is leverage. It can dramatically amplify profits, but it can also magnify losses. That’s why it’s essential to know how to check and change leverage settings on your MT4 account. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know, step-by-step. What is Leverage in Forex Trading? Leverage in forex trading allows you to control a larger position in the market with a smaller amount of actual capital. It’s like…